Mark Hass, a Democrat and former House member, announced today that he will seek the state Senate seat being vacated by Ryan Deckert of Beaverton.
Hass said he was encouraged by Deckert, a Democrat; Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha, and Rep. Tobias Read, D-Beaverton, to seek the Senate District 14 post, which represents portions of Beaverton, Washington County and Portland.
"That is what turned it for me," said Hass, who sat out two years from politics after serving three terms in the House representing Raleigh Hills.
Read said Hass has a talent that is in short supply.
"It is a challenging time in the state, and we need as much expertise and experience as we can get," said Read. "Mark has demonstrated that. ... He has demonstrated a solid understanding of important issues."
Deckert is leaving the Senate to take a job as director of the Oregon Business Association.
Hass said he wants to go back to the Legislature to clean the Willamette River, improve transportation and fix a state revenue structure that depends too heavily on the income tax. "I was proud of what I did when I was down there," he said, "but there is still a lot of unfinished business facing this state."
Other legislators and community leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin, turned out to support Hass as he made his announcement in Beaverton's Griffith Park this morning. Hass said he expects he will need to raise at least $300,000 for his campaign. A Republican opponent has not yet emerged, he said.
Hass is a brand and advertising strategist for Cappelli Miles (spring). He and his wife, Tamra Hass, a speech pathologist, have one daughter, Isabelle.
- Bill Graves
billgraves@news.oregonian.com